“The prestige of the government has undoubtedly been greatly lowered by the Prohibition law. Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws that cannot be enforced. It is no open secret that the dangerous increase in crime in this country is closely connected to this." (Quotes from Albert Einstein on hemp). The United States of America is the largest customer of illicit drugs in the world. This entails a problem or a war so to speak on the illegal activities that are generated by providing this country and its growing market with the supply it requires. Although marijuana is considered a gateway drug to more harmful drugs, the proposed legalization of marijuana in the United States will result in the dramatic reduction of the illegal drug trade and all associated violent crimes that continue to plague this country. This proposal to legalize marijuana will allow the United States government to regulate and tax the product market and its consumers. If the US government could control the regulations on the use and sale of the marijuana market, it would allow government law enforcement agencies and their personnel to be better utilized, allowing law enforcement agencies to focus on other operations more harmful than illegal drug trafficking. Marijuana. it is the most widely used and readily available illegal drug in the United States, with approximately 12 million current users. It is used more frequently than all other illegal drugs combined. Marijuana is often generalized as the “gateway drug” to other, more harmful drugs. While the gateway theory positions itself on the factors that cause subsequent drug use, such as cigarettes or alcohol, which lead to...... middle of paper....... (n.d.). The Decline of the American Mafia" public Interest, Vol 120 Summer 1995, page 89-99. Retrieved from http://www.nationalaffairs.com/public_interest/detail/the_decline_of_the_american_mafiaShirk, D.A. (2010, January). Drug Violence Data in Mexico and analysis from 2001 to 2009 (JB Kroc, editor and University of San Diego) Retrieved from http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/Pubs/2010-Shirk-JMP-drug_violence.pdfState, CS (n.d.). “Proposition 19: Arguments and Rebuttals,” Official Voter Information Guide 2010.” Retrieved from http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/proposition/19/arguments-rebuttals.htmToro, M. C. (1999). The Police International: The DEA in Mexico. Retrieved from http://JournalofAmericanhistory.org/projects/mexico/mtoro.htmlUNODC, UN (n.d.). World Drug Report 2010. Retrieved from http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/WDR-2010.html